Method of recording temporary defect list on write-once recording medium, method of reproducing the temporary defect list, recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and the write-once recording medium

ABSTRACT

A method of recording a temporary defect list on a write-once recording medium, a method of reproducing the temporary defect list, an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing the temporary defect list, and the write-once recording medium. The method of recording a temporary defect list for defect management on a write-once recording medium includes recording the temporary defect list, which is created while data is recorded on the write-once recording medium, in at least one cluster of the write-once recording medium, and verifying if a defect is generated in the at least one cluster. Then, the method includes re-recording data originally recorded in a defective cluster in another cluster, and recording pointer information, which indicates a location of the at least one cluster where the temporary defect list is recorded, on the write-once recording medium.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/831,372 filed Apr. 26, 2004, now pending, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. This application also claims thepriority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-27542, filed on Apr. 30,2003 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and Korean PatentApplication No. 2004-15602, filed on Mar. 8, 2004, respectively, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a write-once recording medium, and moreparticularly, to a method of recording a temporary defect list on awrite-once recording medium, a method of reproducing the temporarydefect list, an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing the temporarydefect list, and the write-once recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

Defect management involves recording data, which has been recorded at alocation of a recording medium where a defect is generated, at anotherlocation of the recording medium when the data cannot be reproducednormally, thereby preventing data loss caused by the generation of thedefect.

Conventionally, defect management is classified into defect managementusing a linear replacement method and that using a slipping replacementmethod. The linear replacement method is the replacement of a data areawhere a defect is generated with a spare area of the data area where adefect is not generated. The slipping replacement method is not usingthe data area where the defect is generated, and skipping to and using anext data area where no defect is generated.

The linear replacement and slipping replacement methods have been mainlyapplied to discs, such as DVD-RAM/RW (digital versatile disk-randomaccess memory/rewritable), on which data can be re-recorded and whichallow recording by random access.

Recently, several solutions have been considered to perform defectmanagement using a data recording and/or reproducing apparatus in awrite-once recording medium in which data cannot be eliminated or erasedonce the data is written.

Defect management for write-once recording media using linearreplacement will now be described in detail. A data recording and/orreproducing apparatus that receives a user data recording command anduser data from a host records the user data in cluster units, which aredata recording units. After the data recording and/or reproducingapparatus performs a verify-after-write operation, if a defect isgenerated in a cluster of a user data area where the user data isrecorded, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus records theuser data in a spare area included in a data area.

During a predetermined time interval when data is being recorded, orafter completion of single data recording, the data recording and/orreproducing apparatus creates a temporary defect list (hereinafterreferred to as a TDFL) containing location information of clusters ofthe user data area where defects are generated and location informationof replacement clusters of the spare area where the user data recordedin the defective clusters is rewritten. Then, the data recording and/orreproducing apparatus records the created TDFL in a temporary discmanagement area (hereinafter referred to as a TDMA). Also, after thedata recording and/or reproducing apparatus records the created TDFL inthe TDMA, it records pointer information indicating the location wherethe TDFL is recorded.

When the write-once recording medium is re-loaded into the datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus, the data recording and/orreproducing apparatus reads out the TDFL from the write-once recordingmedium and stores the read TDFL in a memory. When additional data isrecorded on the write-once recording medium, if new defective clustersare generated, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus rewritesdata recorded in the defective clusters in the replacement clusters ofthe spare area. Thereafter, in addition to the TDFL stored in thememory, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus creates anupdated TDFL containing location information of the newly-generateddefective clusters and location information of replacement clusterscorresponding to the newly-generated defective clusters, records theupdated TDMA, and records pointer information indicating the locationwhere the updated TDFL is recorded.

When the write-once recording medium is loaded into the data recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for the purpose of reproducing the userdata, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus first accesses theTDMA, obtains the pointer information indicating the location where theupdated TDFL is recorded, and obtains the updated TDFL. The datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus can then reproduce the user datawithout error by referring to the updated TDFL.

As described above, since the TDFL is critical information for user datareproduction, the TDFL should be recorded with high reliability. Thus,during the recording of the TDFL, the verify-after-write operation isperformed in the same way as during the recording of user data.Therefore, if a defective cluster is generated, data recorded in thedefective cluster is rewritten in another cluster of the TDMA.

According to the related art, if the size of a TDFL corresponds to atleast two clusters and the TDFL is recorded in at least two clusters,the verify-after-write operation is performed and the TDFL is rewrittenin other clusters if a defective cluster is generated. However, the TDMAis smaller than the data area and the amount of data that can be storedin the TDMA is not large. Accordingly, when defect management isperformed for the TDFL according to the related art, the TDMA is quicklyused up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a method and apparatus forrecording a TDFL in a write-once recording medium, with high reliabilityand improved utilization of an area assigned for recording of the TDFL.

An aspect of the present invention provides a method and apparatus forreproducing a TDFL recorded with high reliability and improvedutilization of an area assigned for recording of the TDFL on awrite-once recording medium.

An aspect of the present invention provides a write-once recordingmedium that stores a TDFL with high reliability and improved utilizationof an area assigned for recording of the TDFL.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of recording a temporary defect list for defect management in awrite-once recording medium, the method including recording thetemporary defect list which is created while data is recorded on thewrite-once recording medium, in at least one cluster of the write-oncerecording medium and verifying if a defect is generated in the at leastone cluster; recording data which is recorded in a defective cluster, inanother cluster, and recording pointer information which indicates alocation of the at least one cluster where the temporary defect list isrecorded, on the write-once recording medium.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the temporarydefect list includes location information of a defective cluster andlocation information of a replacement cluster for replacement of thedefective cluster.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pointer informationincludes location information of the other cluster instead of thedefective cluster.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pointer informationis included in a temporary disc definition structure. The temporarydefect list and the temporary disc definition structure may be recordedin a temporary disc management area provided on the write-once recordingmedium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data, the apparatusincluding a recording/reading unit, which records data on or reads datafrom a write-once recording medium; and a control unit, which controlsthe recording/reading unit to record a temporary defect list for defectmanagement, which is created while the data is recorded on thewrite-once recording medium, in at least one cluster of the write-oncerecording medium. The control unit further verifies whether a defect isgenerated in the at least one cluster, controls the recording/readingunit to record data recorded in a defective cluster in another cluster,and controls the recording/reading unit to record pointer informationindicating a location of the at least one cluster in which the temporarydefect list is recorded on the write-once recording medium.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the temporarydefect list includes location information of the defective cluster andlocation information of a replacement cluster for replacement of thedefective cluster.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pointer informationincludes location information of the other cluster instead of thedefective cluster.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pointer informationis included in a temporary disc definition structure.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the temporary defectlist and the temporary disc definition structure are recorded in atemporary disc management area provided on the write-once recordingmedium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of reading a temporary defect list recorded on a write-oncerecording medium for defect management, the method including obtainingpointer information indicating a location where the temporary defectlist is recorded from the write-once recording medium; and accessing atleast one cluster where the temporary defect list is recorded andreading the temporary defect list, according to the pointer information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pointer informationindicates a location of the at least one cluster where the temporarydefect list is recorded.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pointer informationindicates the location of each of the at least one cluster.

During recording of the temporary defect list, according to an aspect ofthe present invention, if a defect is generated in the at least onecluster and data is recorded in another cluster, the pointer informationmay include location information of the other cluster instead of thedefective cluster.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the temporarydefect list includes location information of a defective cluster andlocation information of a replacement cluster for replacement of thedefective cluster.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the pointerinformation is included in a temporary disc definition structure. Thetemporary defect list and the temporary disc definition structure may berecorded in a temporary disc management area provided on the write-oncerecording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for reproducing data, the apparatus including a readingunit, which reads data recorded on a write-once recording medium; and acontrol unit, which controls the reading unit to read pointerinformation indicating a location where a temporary defect list isrecorded for defect management from the write-once recording medium,accesses at least one cluster where the temporary defect list isrecorded, and reads the temporary defect list, according to the pointerinformation.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the pointer informationindicates a location of the at least one cluster where the temporarydefect list is recorded. The pointer information may indicate thelocation of each of the at least one cluster.

During recording of the temporary defect list, according to an aspect ofthe present invention, if a defect is generated in the at least onecluster and data is recorded in another cluster, the pointer informationincludes location information of the other cluster instead of thedefective cluster.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the temporarydefect list may include location information of a defective cluster andlocation information of a replacement cluster for replacement of thedefective cluster.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the pointerinformation is included in a temporary disc definition structure. Thetemporary defect list and the temporary disc definition structure may berecorded in a temporary disc management area provided on the write-oncerecording medium.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a write-once recording medium including at least one user dataarea for recording user data; at least one spare area for replacementwhen a defect is generated in the user data area; and at least onetemporary disc management area for recording a temporary defect list fordefect management and pointer information indicating a location of atleast one cluster in which the temporary defect list is recorded.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the temporarydefect list includes location information of a defective cluster of theuser data area where a defect is generated and location information of areplacement cluster of the spare area for replacement of the defectivecluster.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, while thetemporary defect list is recorded in at least one cluster of thetemporary disc management area, if a defect is generated in the at leastone cluster and data is recorded in another cluster, the pointerinformation includes location information of the other cluster insteadof the defective cluster. The pointer information may be included in atemporary disc definition structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a write-once recording mediumaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data recording and/or reproducingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of recording a TDFLaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining in detail the creation of the TDFLaccording to a verify-after-write process;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary TDFL;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a verify-after-TDFL recording processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a verify-after-TDFL recording processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates exemplary pointer information indicating the locationof the TDFL according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of reproducing the TDFLaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the presentinvention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a write-once recording medium 100according to an embodiment of the present invention. The write-oncerecording medium 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a single recording layerincluding a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area.

In the lead-in area, a disc management area 1 (DMA 1), a disc managementarea 2 (DMA 2), a primary temporary disc management area (TDMA), a writecondition test area, and a drive information area are provided. In thedata area, a spare area 1 and a spare area 2 for replacement ofdefective clusters generated in a user data area, a secondary TDMA, andthe user data area are provided. In the lead-out area, a disc managementarea 3 (DMA 3) and a disc management area 4 (DMA 4) are provided.

A TDFL and a temporary disc definition structure (hereinafter referredto as a TDDS) are recorded in the primary TDMA and the secondary TDMA.The TDDS includes recordable location information of the write conditiontest area, write protection information, and location and/or sizeinformation of the spare areas 1 and 2 assigned to the data area. Inparticular, in an aspect of this embodiment, the TDDS includes pointerinformation indicating the location of the TDFL. The TDDS and thepointer information indicating the location of the TDFL will bedescribed in detail later.

The TDFL and the TDDS are first recorded in the primary TDMA. After theprimary TDMA is totally exhausted, the TDFL and the TDDS are recorded inthe secondary TDMA. The secondary TDMA included in the data area may ormay not be assigned according to a user command or a command from a datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus, so as to enable a user or amanufacturer of the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus to moreeffectively use the write-once recording medium.

When the write-once recording medium 100 is loaded into the datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus such as that shown in FIG. 2, thedata recording and/or reproducing apparatus performs initialization inorder to use the write-once recording medium 100. In other words, thedata recording and/or reproducing apparatus reads information recordedin the lead-in area and/or lead-out area and determines how to managethe write-once recording medium 100 and record data on or reproduce datafrom the write-once recording medium 100. As the amount of data recordedin the lead-in area and/or lead-out area increases, the time requiredfor the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus to prepare for arecording or reproduction process after the write-once recording medium100 is loaded also increases. To solve this and/or other problems, theconcepts of the TDDS and the TDFL are introduced.

In other words, before the write-once recording medium 100 is finalized,the TDFL and the TDDS are updated and recorded in the TDMA. After thewrite-once recording medium 100 is finalized, meaningful updated TDFLand TDDS are recorded as a defect list (DFL) and a disc definitionstructure (DDS) in one of the DMAs 1 through 4. Also, by recording themeaningful updated TDFL and TDDS in the DMAs 1 through 4, the write-oncerecording medium 100 can be reproduced in an apparatus for reproducing arewritable medium 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data recording and/or reproducingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 2, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes arecording/reading unit 1, a control unit 2, and a memory 3. A write-oncerecording medium 100 has the same structure as the write-once recordingmedium having the single recording layer shown in FIG. 1.

The recording/reading unit 1 records data on and/or reproduces data fromthe write-once recording medium 100 according to control by the controlunit 2. During data recording, to verify recorded data, the recordeddata is read out.

The control unit 2 controls overall operation of the data recordingand/or reproducing apparatus. Also, as data is recorded on and/orreproduced from the write-once recording medium 100, the control unit 2creates an updated TDFL, records the updated TDFL on the write-oncerecording medium 100, and records a TDDS containing pointer informationindicating the location of the updated TDFL in the TDMA, therebyperforming defect management. While not required, it is understood thatthe control unit 2 may be a general or special purpose computer.

The updated TDFL and TDDS that are read out from the write-oncerecording medium 100 are stored in the memory 3 when the write-oncerecording medium 100 is initialized for use. Thereafter, if new userdata is recorded, defect management is performed again, the control unit2 creates a new updated TDFL including location information of newdefective clusters and location information of replacement clusterscorresponding to the new defective clusters in the TDFL stored in thememory 3, records the updated TDFL in the TDMA, and records pointerinformation indicating the location where the updated TDFL is recordedin the TDMA.

A method of recording a TDFL on the write-once recording medium 100according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is performedby the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, willnow be described in relation to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the method of recording the TDFLaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, when the write-once recording medium 100is loaded into the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus,initialization is performed in order to use the write-once recordingmedium 100. In other words, the control unit 2 reads the updated TDFLand TDDS from the write-once recording medium 100 and stores the readTDFL and TDDS in the memory 3.

Thereafter, if user data and a user data recording command are input tothe write-once recording medium 100 from a host (not shown), the controlunit 2 records the user data on the write-once recording medium 100 inpredetermined units and performs a verify-after-write operation toverify the recorded data.

During a predetermined time interval when data is being recorded, orafter completion of single data recording, the data recording and/orreproducing apparatus creates a new updated TDFL containing locationinformation of new defective clusters and location information ofreplacement clusters corresponding to the new defective clusters,records the updated TDFL in the TDMA, and records the TDDS including thepointer information indicating the location where the updated TDFL isrecorded in the TDMA.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining in detail the creation of the TDFLaccording to a verify-after-write process. Here, data is processed inunits of either sectors or clusters. A sector is the smallest unit ofdata that can be managed by a file system of a computer or anapplication program. A cluster is the smallest unit of data that can bephysically recorded on a disc at a time. In general, at least one sectorconstitutes a cluster.

A sector is subdivided into a physical sector and a logical sector. Thephysical sector is a space of a disc where data corresponding to thesector is recorded. An address used to find the physical sector iscalled a physical sector number (PSN). The logical sector is a sectorunit used to manage data in the file system or the application program.Likewise, a logical sector number (LSN) is assigned to the logicalsector.

The data recording and/or reproducing apparatus finds the location ofdata to be recorded or reproduced on the write-once recording medium 100using the PSN, manages all of the data in units of logical sectors in acomputer or an application program for recording or reproducing data,and finds the location of the data using the LSN. The relationshipbetween the LSN and the PSN is mapped by the control unit 2 according todefect generation and a location where data recording starts.

Referring to FIG. 4, A denotes a user data area and B denotes a sparearea. In the user data area A and the spare area B, there is a pluralityof physical sectors (not shown) to which PSNs are sequentially assigned.LSNs are assigned to at least one physical sector unit. However, theLSNs are assigned to replacement areas of the spare area B except fordefective areas of the user data area A where defects are generated. Asa result, although the physical sector and the logical sector are thesame in size, if defective areas are generated, the PSNs and the LSNsbecome different.

The user data is recorded in the user data area A according to acontinuous recording mode or a random recording mode. In the continuousrecording mode, the user data is sequentially and continuously recorded.In the random recording mode, the user data is not necessarilycontinuously recorded, but is recorded at random. {circle around(1)}through {circle around (7)} indicate unit areas in which averify-after-write operation is performed.

The data recording and/or reproducing apparatus records the user data inthe unit area {circle around (1)}, the data recording and/or reproducingapparatus returns to the start of the unit area {circle around (1)} andverifies if the user data is recorded normally or if a defect isgenerated. If a cluster where a defect is generated is found, thecluster is identified as a defective cluster and is designated as adefective area, i.e., a defect #1, as shown in FIG. 4.

Also, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus rewrites the userdata recorded in the defect #1, in the spare area B. A part of the sparearea B where the user data is rewritten is designated as a replacement#1. Next, after recording the user data in the unit area {circle around(2)}, the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus returns to thestart of the unit area {circle around (2)} and verifies if the user datais recorded normally or if a defect is generated. If at least onecluster where a defect is generated is found, the at least one clusteris designated as a defect #2. In the same manner as above, a replacement#2 corresponding to the defect #2 is designated. Also, in the unit area{circle around (3)}, a defective area, i.e., a defect #3, and areplacement #3 corresponding to the defect #3 are designated. In theunit area {circle around (4)}, no defects are found and there are nodefective areas.

After recording and verification are completed up to the unit area{circle around (4)}, if termination of a recording operation #1 isexpected (e.g., if a user pushes an eject button or recording of theuser data assigned to the recording operation #1 is completed), the datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus creates, in the previous TDFLstored in the memory 3, a TDFL #1 where location information of thedefects #1 through #3 that are generated in the unit areas {circlearound (1)} through {circle around (4)}, and location information of thereplacements #1 through #3 corresponding to the defects #1 through #3,are updated.

When the write-once recording medium 100 is again loaded into the datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus, the control unit 2 reads thepreviously recorded TDFL #1 from the write-once recording medium 100 andstores the read TDFL #1 in the memory 3. Thereafter, once a recordingoperation #2 starts, data is recorded and defect management is performedin the same way as in the recording operation #1.

In other words, in the recording operation #2, verification afterrecording of the user data is performed from unit area {circle around(5)} through {circle around (7)}, and thus, defects #4 and #5 andcorresponding replacements #4 and #5 are designated. After the recordingoperation #2 is terminated, the data recording and/or reproducingapparatus creates, in the previous TDFL #1 stored in the memory 3, aTDFL #2 where location information of the defects #4 and #5 and locationinformation of the replacements #4 and #5 are updated.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary TDFL. Referring to FIG. 5, locationinformation of all defective clusters on the write-once recording medium100 is included in the first column of the TDFL, and locationinformation of replacement clusters corresponding to the defectiveclusters is included in the second column of the TDFL. In an aspect ofthis embodiment, the locations of the defective clusters or replacementclusters are indicated using PSNs of respective first sectors of thedefective clusters or replacement clusters. However, the locations ofthe defective clusters or replacement clusters may be indicated usingPSNs of respective last sectors of the defective clusters or replacementclusters, or using indices indicating the defective clusters orreplacement clusters according to aspects of the invention.

Referring back to FIG. 3, once the TDFL is created as described above,the control unit 2 records the created TDFL in at least one cluster ofthe TDMA and verifies the recorded TDFL (operation S510). As a result ofthe verification, if a defective cluster is generated among clusterswhere the TDFL is recorded, the control unit 2 rewrites data recorded inthe defective cluster, in another cluster of the TDMA (operation S530).

Two exemplary embodiments of verify-after-TDFL recording will now bedescribed.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining verify-after-TDFL recording according toan embodiment of the present invention. According to the shownembodiment of the present invention, when a TDFL whose size is equal tothat of a plurality of clusters is recorded in a TDMA, the entire TDFLis recorded and then verified.

Referring to FIG. 6, the size of the TDFL is three clusters including afirst cluster 210, a second cluster 230, and a third cluster 250, andthe TDFL is recorded in the three clusters and then verified. As aresult of the verification, it is determined that a defect is generatedin the second cluster 230. Therefore, the data recorded in the secondcluster 230 is rewritten in a cluster 270 next to the third cluster 250.After verification of the cluster 270, if it is determined that a defectis not generated in the cluster 270, recording of the TDFL is terminatedand pointer information indicating the locations of the clusters inwhich the TDFL is recorded is included in the TDDS and the TDDS isrecorded in the TDMA. At this time, the pointer information includespointers indicating the locations of the first cluster 210 and the thirdcluster 250 where no defects are generated during initial recording, andthe location of the cluster 270 that replaces the defective secondcluster 230.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining verify-after-TDFL recording according toanother embodiment of the present invention. According to the shownembodiment of the present invention, a TDFL has a size of threeclusters. The TDFL is recorded in a first cluster 310 and then verified.As a result of the verification, it is determined that a defect is notgenerated in the first cluster 310. The TDFL is recorded in a secondcluster 330 and then verified. As a result of the verification, it isdetermined that a defect is generated in the second cluster 330. Thus,the TDFL recorded in the second cluster 330 is rewritten in a cluster350 next to the defective second cluster 330. After verification of thecluster 350, if it is determined that a defect is not generated in thecluster 350, a TDFL is recorded in a third cluster 370 and verified.After verification of the third cluster 370, if it is determined that adefect is not generated, recording of the TDFL is terminated, andpointer information indicating the locations of the clusters where theTDFL is recorded is included in the TDDS, and the TDDS is recorded inthe TDMA. As in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the pointer informationincludes pointers indicating the locations of the first cluster 310 andthe third cluster 370 where no defects are generated during initialrecording, and the location of the cluster 350 that replaces thedefective second cluster 330.

FIG. 8 illustrates exemplary pointer information indicating the locationof the TDFL according to an aspect of the present invention. The pointerinformation shown in FIG. 8 includes k pointers 410, 430, and 450. Thedata recording and/or reproducing apparatus sequentially records theTDFL in k clusters by reproducing the pointer information shown in FIG.8, and the locations of the k clusters can be seen.

In this embodiment, an n^(th) cluster pointer of the TDFL (n is aninteger ranging from 1 to k) has a size of 4 bytes. Also, the pointerinformation is included in the TDDS. In other words, the TDDS includesthe pointer information indicating the location of the TDFL, informationon a recordable location of a write condition test area, writeprotection information, and location and/or size information of a sparearea assigned to a data area.

Because the TDDS should include the pointer information indicating thelocation of the TDFL, the TDDS should always be recorded after the TDFLis recorded.

As described above, according to the method and apparatus for recordingthe TDFL, the TDFL can be recorded with high reliability by performingthe verify-after-write operation during the recording of the TDFL andrewriting the TDFL in another cluster if a defective cluster isgenerated. Also, when a defect is generated during recording of theTDFL, only data recorded in the defective cluster is recorded in areplacement cluster, instead of re-recording the entire TDFL. Referringto FIG. 3, in operation S550 the pointer information indicating thelocations of clusters in which the TDFL is recorded normally is includedin the TDDS, and the TDDS is recorded in the TDMA. Thus, it is possibleto conserve the storage space in the TOMA.

A method and apparatus for reproducing the TDFL according to anembodiment of the present invention will now be described.

The apparatus for reproducing the TDFL uses the data recordingand/reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 2. However, if the apparatus forreproducing the TDFL is a reproduction-only-apparatus, therecording/reading unit 1 and the control unit 2 may only perform datareading.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the method of reproducing the TDFLaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Although not shownin the drawings, when the write-once recording medium 100 in which theuser data, the TDFL, and the TDDS are recorded according to the methoddescribed above is loaded into the data recording and/or reproducingapparatus, the control unit 2 performs initialization in order to usethe write-once recording medium 100. In other words, basic data requiredfor use and management of the write-once recording medium 100 is readfrom the write-once recording medium 100.

In particular, after the updated TDDS is located and read, pointerinformation indicating the location of the updated TDFL is obtained fromthe updated TDDS (operation S610). The pointer information indicatingthe location of the updated TDFL has the structure shown in FIG. 8.

Since the control unit 2 can obtain from the pointer information thelocations of clusters where the updated TDFL is recorded and an order inwhich the TDFL is recorded in the clusters, it reads the updated TDFL(operation S630). The control unit 2 stores the updated TDDS and TDFLthat are read from the write-once recording medium 100 in the memory 3.The control unit 2 can flawlessly reproduce user data recorded on thewrite-once recording medium 100 with reference to the TDDS and TDFLstored in the memory 3.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possibleto more efficiently use areas of a write-once recording medium and morereliably record and reproduce the TDFL. In particular, averify-after-write process is performed during recording of the TDFL andthe TDFL is rewritten in another cluster if a defective cluster isgenerated. Thus, the TDFL can be recorded with high reliability. Here,when a defect is generated during recording of the TDFL, data recordedin a defective cluster is rewritten in a replacement cluster instead ofre-recording the entire TDFL, the pointer information indicating thelocations of the clusters where the TDFL is recorded normally isincluded in the TDDS, and the TDDS is recorded in the TDMA. Thus, thespace for the TDMA is not used up quickly.

The present invention also can be implemented as computer readable codesin computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recordingmedium includes all kinds of recording apparatuses in which data thatcan be read by a computer system is stored. Such computer readablerecording media are ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disks, andoptical data storage, and transmission via carrier waves, e.g., theInternet. Also, the computer readable recording medium can bedistributed among computer systems connected via a network and thecomputer readable codes can be stored thereon and executed in adecentralized fashion.

Additionally, it is understood that the method of the present inventionmay be used in multiple types of media in which a TDMA is to beconserved, including writable optical media (such as CD-R, DVD-R),rewritable media (such as CODR/W, DVD-R/W, DVD-RAM), magnetic andmagneto-optical media, and next generation DVDs such as Bluray discs,advanced optical discs (AODs), E-DVD.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in this embodiment without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

1. An apparatus for recording data on a write-once recording medium, theapparatus comprising: a pickup which emits a light to transfer data withrespect to the write-once recording medium; and a controller whichgenerates a temporary defect list comprising a first pointer indicatinga defective cluster of a user data area of the write-once recordingmedium and a second pointer indicating a replacement cluster of a sparearea of the write-once recording medium corresponding to the defectivecluster, and which controls the pickup to record the temporary defectlist in a first cluster of a temporary defect management area of thewrite-once recording medium and to record a temporary disc definitionstructure comprising a third pointer indicating a predetermined clusterin which the temporary defect list is recorded, wherein if the firstcluster has a defect, the temporary defect list is recorded in a secondcluster next to the first cluster, the predetermined cluster being thesecond cluster.
 2. An apparatus for reproducing data from a write-oncerecording medium, the apparatus comprising: a pickup which emits andreceives a light to transfer data with respect to the write-oncerecording medium; and a controller which controls the pickup to read atemporary disc definition structure comprising a third pointerindicating a predetermined cluster in which a temporary defect list isrecorded, from the write-once recording medium, the temporary defectlist comprising a first pointer indicating a defective cluster of a userdata area of the write-once recording medium and a second pointerindicating a replacement cluster of a spare area of the write-oncerecording medium corresponding to the defective cluster, and whichcontrols the pickup to access the predetermined cluster where thetemporary defect list is recorded, according to the temporary discdefinition structure, wherein the predetermined cluster is a firstcluster of a temporary defect management area in which the temporarydefect list is recorded, and if the first cluster of the temporarydefect management area has a defect, the predetermined cluster is asecond cluster next to the first cluster.
 3. A write-once recordingmedium, comprising: a temporary defect list comprising a first pointerindicating a defective cluster of a user data area of the write-oncerecording medium and a second pointer indicating a replacement clusterof a spare area of the write-once recording medium corresponding to thedefective cluster, and a temporary disc definition structure comprisinga third pointer indicating a predetermined cluster in which a temporarydefect list is recorded, wherein the predetermined cluster is a firstcluster of a temporary defect management area in which the temporarydefect list is recorded, and if the first cluster of the temporarydefect management area has a defect, the predetermined cluster is asecond cluster next to the first cluster.